Combination pre-sterilized syringe and container



M. LIPARI 2,851,036

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 9, 1958 cowanm'rron PRE-STERILIZED SYRINGE AND CONTAINER Filed June '1-,' 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEY MICHAEL L/PAR/ I I l-III 1."

United States COMBINATION PRE-STERILIZED SYRINGE AND CONTAINER Michael Lipari, Oneonta, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Lee Barry Laboratories, incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 1, 1955, Serial No. 512,487

Claims. (Cl. 128-218) Heretofore, conventional hypodermic syringes have 7 been utilized for obtaining specimens of body fluids, these fluids thereafter being ejected from the syringe into a sterile container for storage or transportation to a laboratory for examination. This prior art practice required a large quantity of sterile syringes and needles, particularly where mass examinations were to be conducted, such as in public health work, and furthermore, the speed with which such examinations might be conducted was seriously impaired by the necessity for first obtaining the specimen and then transferring the same from the syringe to a sterile container. While numerous attempts have been made in the past to provide a combined syringe and container, or to provide a syringe which could be conveniently pre-sterilized and packaged prior to use, nevertheless, these prior art devices have not proven entirely satisfactory and their use has been relatively infrequent.

It is accordingly an object of this. invention to provide a combination pro-sterilized syringe and container in which the syringe as well as the needle utilized therewith, may be provided as a unitary package and the entire device protected against contamination.

atent A further object of the invention is the provision of syringe, is utilized to close such syringe thereby provid-;

ing a storage or shipping container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combination pre-sterilized syringe and container which includes a readily available supply of sterilized swab material which may be conveniently utilized to cleanse the.

skin surface to be pierced by the needle and to cover the wound formed by the needle in the body of the patient.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combination pre-sterilized syringe and container in which a specimen of fluid may be drawn into the syringe by outward movement of an actuating member attached to the plunger of the syringe after which such actuating member may be removed and the needle also removed from the syringe thereby providing a container for storing or transporting the specimen contained therein.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combination pre-sterilized syringe and container in which the plunger of the syringe is provided with a threaded aperture extending therethrough for detachably receiving an actuator, which actuator may be detached and discarded after use leaving the aperture open to permit flow of fluid through the plunger.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combination pro-sterilized syringe and container in which the plunger of the syringe need not be removed prior to centrifuging or removing the fluid contents of the syringe.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combination pro-sterilized syringe and container in which the plunger of the syringe is provided with an elongated integral actuator, there being a passage through the actuator and plunger, there also being provided a combined finger engaging knob and stopper detachably secured to the actuator for closing the passage, the actuator and plunger to be detached from the stopper and discarded after use and the stopper to be utilized to close the syringe thereby providing a container.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combination pro-sterilized syringe and container which may be readily and economically manufactured from suitable materials at a sufliciently low cost tobe expendable after a single use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view showing a combination syringe and container constructed in accordance with this invention and with the needle in inoperative position;

Fig. 2, a view similiar to Fig. 1, but showing the needle in operative position and with the needle shield removed;

Fig. 3, an elevational view with parts in section for greater clarity, and showing the combination syringe and container of this invention in use; 7 i

Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6, a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form' of syringe and container with a detachable plunger-actuator;

Fig. 7, a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 6 with the plunger actuator removed;

Fig. 8, a sectional View on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9, a longitudinal sectional view of a further modified form of syringe and container showing a tubular plunger actuator and a detachable'stopper;

Fig. 10 a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 9 with the plunger and actuator removed and with the container closed by the inverted stopper; and

Fig. 11 a sectional View on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

With continued reference to the drawing there is shown a combination syringe and container constructed in accordance with this invention and which may well comprise'a body 10 providing an elongated cylinder 11, and, of course, the body 10 may be of any desired external configuration. The cylinder 11 is open at one end and closed at the other by a Wall 12. Centrally of the wall 12 there is provided an aperture 13 and depending from the wall 12 is an annular skirt 14 which provides an outwardly opening recess 15. Disposed within the recess 15 and tightly engaging the walls thereof, is a plug 16 of yieldable material, such as rubber or the like, and this plug 16 is provided with an outwardly opening tapered recess 17, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Slidably disposed in the cylinder 11 is a plunger 18 which may be formed of any suitable material and centrally of the upper surface thereof there is provided a threaded recess 19 for threadedly and detachably receiving a threaded stud 20 forming a part of and depending from an actuating member 21. Actuating member 21 is provided with a plurality of elongated ribs 22 which may be in the form of a cross, as shown, or any other desired configuration, and these ribs 22 have an outer diameter slightly less than the diameter of the cylinder 11. Thus the ribs 22 may engage the wall of cylinder 11 and act as guides to maintain the actuating member 21 in substantially axial alignment with the cylinder 11. The actuating member 21 terminates at its upper end in a finger-engaging stopper 23 provided with a tapered portion 24 for tightly engaging in the outer end of cylinder 11 and also being provided with an annular flange 25 having a diameter somewhat greater than the outer diameter of body and providing a portion which may be easily gripped by the fingers of the operator or technician utilizing this device. The stopper 24 is provided with an outwardly opening recess 26 which may serve to receive and contain an quantity of sterile swab material 27, and this material may be retained in a sterile condition by means of a seal 28 of suitable material which extends over the recess 26 and engages the annular flange 25. If desired, the seal 28 may, of course, extend downwardly and engage the outer wall of the body 10 to provide an additional seal between the stopper 23 and the body 10 thereby further insuring against contamination of the cylinder 11.

Slidably mounted on the skirt 14 is a needle shield 29 which may well comprise an elongated cylindrical member closed at one end by a wall 30, and having an internal diameter suflicient to provide a relatively tight sliding fit on the outer surface of skirt 14. Spaced inwardly of the shield 29 from the open end thereof, is a partition 31 which is provided with a central aperture 32. Secured to the wall 30 of the shield 29 and extending upwardly through the aperture 32 in the partition 31, is a stylet 33 which serves to slidably receive and support a hypodermic needle 34 sharpened at the end 35 and also sharpened at the opposite end 36. Fixed on the needle 34 is a collar 37 of rubber or other suitable material, and such collar is provided with a tapered surface 38 complementary to the surface of the tapered recess 17 in the plug 16. The collar 37 is so positioned on the needle 34, that the same is in engagement with the surface of the partition 31 with the sharpened end 35 of the needle 34 spaced from the end wall 30 of the shield 29 and with the shield and needle in the position shown in Fig. 1, the sharpened end 36 of the needle 34 penetrates a relatively short distance into the plug 16.

The body 10, actuating member 21, and needle shield 29 may be formed of glass or a non-breakable plastic, or any other suitable material which will withstand a sterilizing temperature, and it is to be presumed, that the entire device will be presterilized and provided as a unitary package with the parts in relationship shown in Fig. 1. If desired, a seal of suitable material may be provided between the needle shield 29 and the skirt 14, but normally the engagement between the shield 29 and skirt 14 is sufficiently tight to preclude the necessity of a seal in this location.

In order to prepare the device of this invention for use,

it is only necessary to force theneedle shield 29 inwardly on the skirt 14, which, by reason of the engagement of partition 31 with the collar 37, will force the sharpened end 36 of the needle 34 through the plug 16 and into communication with the cylinder 11 through the aperture 13 in the end wall 14. At the same time, the collar 37 will be moved intovthe recess 17 until the complementary walls thereof, tightly engage, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. At this time, the shield. 29 may be removed by simply withdrawing the same in an axial direction which will, of course, remove the stylet 33 from the in- 4 terior of the needle 34 leaving the sharpened end available for use.

The sharpened end 35 of the needle 34 may then be inserted in the arm 39, or other body part of a patient, or into a vessel from which a sample of fluid is to be taken and the plunger 18 withdrawn outwardly of the cylinder 11 by grasping the flange 25 on the stopper 24 of the actuating member 21. This operation is clearly shown in Fig. 3, and by reason of the movement of the plunger 18, after a sutficient quantity of fluid has been drawn into the cylinder 11, the actuating member 21 may be removed from the plunger 18 by relative rotation which will release the threaded engagement between the stud 20 and the recess 19 in the plunger 18, and thereafter plunger 18 serves as an air-tight closure for the cylinder 11. The needle 34 and the collar 37 may be removed from the plug 16 and the yieldability of the material forming such plug results in closing the opening formed by the needle therein, which in turn seals the cylinder 11 and prevents contamination of the contents thereof. The swab material 27 may be conveniently removed from the recess 26 by removing the. seal 23 and such swab material utilized to cleanse the skin surface to be pierced by the needle 24 and to cover the wound formed by the needle in the body of the patient.

The body 10 containing the fluid and closed at one end by the plunger 18 and then at the opposite end by the plug 16, provides a container for the fluid 20 which may be utilized for storing the same or transportation to a laboratory for examination, and obviously, there is no opportunity for contamination of the contents thereof prior to such laboratory examination. Upon completion of such examination, the body 10 may, if desired, be discarded or sterilized and reassembled for future use.

The ribs 22 in engagement with the interior surface of the cylinder 11 serve to guide the actuating member 21 and plunger 18 during outward movement thereof, thereby preventing any displacement of the plunger 18 which might result in leakage between such plunger and the wall of the cylinder 11. Likewise, the provision of the sterile swab material 27 makes it unnecessary to provide any other equipment than that contained in the unitary package provided by the combined syringe and container of this invention.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 3 of the drawing, there is shown a modified form of the invention which may well comprise a cylinder 41 open at one end and having a skirt 42 depending from the end wall 43 on the opposite end, the skirt 42 providing a recess for receiving a plug 44 of resilient material which is also provided with an outwardly opening tapered recess 45 for receiving a hypodermic needle, as described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6. The end wall 43 is provided substantially centrally thereof, with an aperture 46 which provides communication between a hypodermic needle and the interior of the cylinder 41.

Slidably positioned within the cylinder 41 is a plunger 47 of suitable material and such plunger 47 is provided with a threaded aperture 48 extending therethrough. The aperture 48 serves to detachably receive the threaded end 49 of an actuator 50 disposed in the cylinder 41 with the actuator 50 being provided on the outer end thereof with a stopper 51 which, as shown in Pig. 6, serves to close the outer end of the cylinder 41 when the plunger 47 is in the position shown. The stopper 51 is provided with an outwardly opening recess 52 which serves to receive sterile swab material 53 to be utilized in swabing an area surrounding the location to be punctured by a hypodermic needle.

In order to hold the plunger 47, actuator 50 and stopper 51 in place in the cylinder 41, as shown in Fig. 6, there is provided a cap 54 having a skirt 55 internally threaded for threadedly engaging a threaded portion 56 on the exterior of the cylinder 41 adjacent the outer end thereof.

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially similar to that described above in connection with the first form of the invention and upon completion of outward movement of the plunger 47 to draw fluid into the cylinder 41, the actuator 50 may be detached from the plunger 47 by unscrewing the threaded portion 49 from the threaded aperture 48 and thereafter, the actuator 50 and stopper 51 is discarded. The cylinder 41 is closed by the threaded cap 54 thereby providing a sterile container for the fluid therein and the plunger 47 is free to move in the cylinder 41 with fluid flowing through the threaded aperture 48. By this arrangement, the complete assembly including the cylinder 41 and the plunger 47 may be placed in a centrifuge and the plunger 47 will move to one end or the other of the cylinder 41 and will thereby not interfere with removal of the contents of such cylinder. This form of the invention also provides a positive closure or seal for the cylinder 41 and does not depend on the frictional engagement of the plunger with the wall of the cylinder.

A still further modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 9 to 11 and in this form, there is provided a cylinder 57 having an end wall-58 from which depends a skirt 59 providing a recess for receiving a plug of yieldable material 60. Plug 60 is provided with an outwardly opening recess 61 for receiving a hypodermic needle in the same manner as described above. The end wall 58 is provided with a centrally located aperture 62 for provid ing communication between a hypodermic needle and the interior of the cylinder 57.

A plunger 63 of suitable material, is slidably received in the cylinder 57 and in order to improve the seal between the plunger 63 and the wall of the cylinder 57, there may be provided annular ribs 64 on the exterior surface of the plunger 63.

Extending from the plunger 63 and integral therewith, is an actuator 65 and such actuator is provided with a passage 66 extending therethrough and through the plunger 63. The outer end of the actuator 65 is provided with an enlarged threaded portion 67.

The outer end of the cylinder 57 is provided with a bead 68 and a combination stopper and finger engaging knob for actuating the plunger 63 is provided in the form of a cup-shaped member 69 having an outwardly opening annular groove 70 for engaging the bead 68 to seal the outer end of the cylinder 57 and the knob 69 is provided with a threaded portion 71 for threadedly engaging the portion 67 on the actuator 65 to connect the knob 69 to the actuator 65 and to close the passage 66. The knob 69 is provided with an outwardly opening recess 72 for receiving sterile swab material 73 and the recess 72 may be closed by a suitable sealing member 74, such as a sheet of foil or other suitable material adhesively or otherwise secured to the knob 69. The knob 69 is also provided with an internal annular recess 75 in the wall thereof, which, as shown in Fig. 10, serves to engage.

the bead 68 and seal the cylinder 57 when the knob 69 is inverted and applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 10.

The operation of the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 11 is similar to that described above in connection with the other two forms of the invention, except that upon completion of outward movement of the plunger 63 to draw the desired quantity of fluid into the cylinder 57, the knob 69 is removed from the actuator 65 and the actuator 65 and plunger 63 removed from the cylinder 57 and discarded. The provision of the passage 66 which is opened by removing the knob 69 permits withdrawal of the plunger 63 without creating a vacuum therebeneath and thereby prevents the drawing of air into the cylinder 57 through the hypodermic needle, provided the same has not as yet been removed from the plug 69. After removing and discarding the plunger 63 and actuator 65, the knob 69 is inverted and applied to the bead 68 of the cylinder 57, as shown in Fig. 10, which results in closing the outer end of the same to provide a sterile container for the fluid therein. The container 57 and fluid therein may be subjected to a centrifuging operation or any other desired operation without interference by a plunger or any other member within the cylinder and when desired, the contents of such cylinder may be removed, simply by removing the knob 69. Of course, such knob 69 will be formed of such suitable yieldable material to permit application and removal of the 'same and also provide a suitable fluid and air-tight joint.

It will therefore be seen, that by this invention there has been provided an extremely economical, yet highly eflicient combination syringe and container which may be conveniently presterilized and provided with means for conveniently attaching a needle in operative position,

after which a specimen may be obtained and the device conveniently closed to provide a sterile container for such from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination pre-sterilized syringe and container providing a device for obtaining and storing a specimen of fluid, said device comprising a body providing a cylinder open at one end and a wall closing the opposite end, a skirt depending from said wall and providing a recess open at one end and closed at the opposite end by said wall, said wall having an aperture communicating with said cylinder and said recess, a plug of yieldable material disposed in said recess and closing said aperture, a tubular shield slidably and removably received on said skirt, a partition in said shield, said partition including an aperture extending therethrough, a hypodermic needle disposed in said shield and extending through said last named aperture, a collar fixed to said needle and engaging said partition, whereby upon relative movement of said shield toward said body, the engagement of said partition and said collar will force the inner end of said needle through said plug and said first named aperture into communication with said cylinder, said shield being removable and leaving said needle in operative position, a plunger slidably received in said cylinder, said plunger having a pas-' sage extending therethrough an actuating member disposed in said cylinder, means associated with said actuating member for releasably connecting the same to said plunger and for closing said passage and a finger engaging stopper on said actuating member for closing said cylinder and for facilitating outward movement of said plunger to draw fluid into said cylinder and upon completion of such movement said needle may be removed from said plug, the material of said plug closing the opening therein and means to close the outer end of said cylinder to provide a sterile container for said fluid.

2. A combination pre-sterilized syringe and container as defined in claim 1 in which said passage extending through said plunger is threaded, athreaded portion on said actuator threadedly engaging said threaded passage to close the same, an outwardly opening recess in said stopper for receiving sterile swab material, said cylinder being exteriorly threaded adjacent the outer end thereof and a threaded cap for engaging the threads on said cylinder to hold said stopper in place and to close said last named recess, whereby upon completion of movement of said plunger to draw fluid into said cylinder said actuator and stopper may be detached from said plunger and discarded, said plunger being freely movable in said cylinder with fluid flowing through said threaded passage and said cap serving to close said cylinder at the outer end to provide a sterile container for said fluid.

3. A combination pre-sterilized syringe and container as defined in claim 1, in which said passage extending through said plunger is threaded, a threaded portion on said actuator threadedly engaging said threaded passage to close the same, said cylinder being exteriorly threaded adjacent the outer end thereof and a threaded cap for engaging the threads on said cylinder to hold said stopper in place, whereby upon completion of movement of said plunger to draw fluid into said cylinder said actuator and stopper may be detached from said plunger and discarded, said plunger being freely movable in said cylinder with fluid flowing through said threaded passage and said cap serving to close said cylinder at the outer end to provide a sterile container for said fluid.

4. A combination pre-sterilized syringe and container as defined in claim 1 in which said passage extending through said plunger is threaded, a threaded portion on said actuator threadedly engaging said threaded passage to close the same and a cap for engaging said cylinder to hold said stopper in place, whereby upon completion of movement of said plunger to draw fluid into said cylinder, said actuator and stopper may be detached from said plunger and discarded, said plunger being freely movable in said cylinder with said fluid flowing through said threaded passage and said cap serving to close said cylinder at the outer end to provide a sterile container for a said fluid.

5. A combination pre-sterilized syringe and container as defined in claim 1 in which said means to close the outer end of said cylinder comprises a cap for engaging said cylinder to hold said stopper in place, whereby upon completion of movement of said plunger to draw fluid into said cylinder said actuator and stopper may be detached from said plunger and discarded, said plunger being freely movable in said cylinder with fluid flowing through said passage and said cap serving to close said cylinder at the outer end to provide a sterile container for said fluid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

